Do Dual Flush Toilets Really Save Water?

Dual flush toilets are interactive toilets that handle solid and liquid waste differently by presenting the user with a choice of flushes. Initially promoted in areas where water was and continues to be in short supply, such as Australia, the dual flush toilets are becoming increasingly popular for many North Americans as well. Rising water costs and increased environmental awareness have led many consumers to perceive the dual flash technology as an attractive alternative to conventional toilets.

However, many homeowners who are still reluctant to this changeover keep wondering if dual flush toilets really save water. The fact is that the dual flush toilet technology can save up to 70% more water than a traditional low-flow toilet and that is all due to the way dual flush toilets work. In order to understand the water efficiency of a dual flush toilet, you need to understand that the way water is used to remove waste from the bowl has a significant influence on how much water is needed to get the job done.

Dual flush toilets have two distinctive features that make them more efficient as far as water consumption is concerned: a large trapway and a wash-down flushing design. The role of the wash down flushing design is to push the waste down the drain and the role of the large trapway is to make it easy for waste to exit the bowl using less water. That is essentially what allows the dual flush toilets to use less water for the same results. In addition, you have the option of a half-flush or a full-flush with the push of a button, which again adds up and makes the dual flush toilets more water efficient and environmentally friendly.

In contrast, standard toilets employ a siphoning action to evacuate waste. The siphoning action involves a siphoning tube, which is connected to the bowl. The siphoning action is triggered by pressing the handle which brings a high volume of water into the bowl filling the siphon tube and causing it to suck the water and waste out of the bowl and down the drain. The moment the bowl is emptied, the siphon tube gets filled with air and stops the siphoning action, a moment that is marked by a distinctive gurgling. The entire process involves a high volume of water or it would not work. You can immediately see the difference and understand how dual flush toilets save water with every flush because of the way they flush water.

Although dual flush toilets are a relatively more significant investment than conventional toilets, they do come with significant advantages that involve reduction in water consumption, as well as less clogging. Check out your dual flush toilet alternatives with your plumbing expert to make the right choice in all respects.